Volumetric-controlled smart valve

ABSTRACT

A volumetric metering smart valve shuts down automatically when a certain amount of liquid has passed through the valve. This valve has a water wheel which is rotated by the liquid and which drives a disc via a gear train. If the flowing amount exceeds a preset limit, the disc operates a ratchet and spring acting on a column in a closing direction to shut down the valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 of international application numberPCT/EG2004/000039, filed on Oct, 4, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a regular valve for potable water and liquidto control and shutdown the flow of liquid in emergency cases.

2. Description of the Related Art

In computers, if there is no activity of the user, a computer systemcould shutdown due to lack of attendance. In an electrical system,overloads due to long running cause shutdown of the system. Water andother liquids need some control to shutdown the flow by sensing anemergency or an absence of control.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a volumetric metering smart valve whichshuts down automatically when a certain amount of liquid has passedthrough the valve. This valve has a water wheel which is rotated by theliquid and which drives a disc via a gear train. If the flowing amountexceeds a preset limit, the disc operates a ratchet and spring acting ona column in a closing direction to shut down the valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed hereinbelow withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a regular globe valve of the priorart.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a smart valve kit withmicroplanetary gear type components.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a valve of FIG. 1 converted to be asmart valve using the smart valve kit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing assembly of the smartvalve kit in FIG. 2 with planetary gear type components with partsseparated.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment sealingassembly of the smart valve kit in FIG. 2 using flow difference typecomponents with parts separated.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodimentsealing assembly of the smart valve kit in FIG. 2 using electroniccounting components with parts separated.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a smart valve having two sealssealing flow in the same direction.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a smart valve having two sealssealing flow in two directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to international application numberPCT/EG2004/000039, filed on Oct. 4, 2004, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

The invention is to convert a regular globe valve 1 or a tap of theprior art, as shown in FIG. 1, to a smart valve which is to shutdownautomatically in case of emergency through a double valving operation.Double valving means that the valve has its original closing mode set byeither a mechanical device such as a hand wheel 6, or by an electricaltimer, photocell, pneumatic control or level control, as well asadditional valving that operates automatically in an emergency.

Double valving could be performed by a single seal smart valve assembly8, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, to be attached to the neck of the valve 1having the hand wheel 6 by a valve neck extension 7, which would be morepractical and economical for installation, or by a double seal smartvalve assembly such as the assemblies 9, 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,respectively. The assembly 9 in FIG. 7 has an additional orifice 11 fora double seal, one side arrangement in an extension 13 of the orifice.The assembly 10 in FIG. 8 has an additional orifice 12 for a doubleseal, two side arrangement.

As described herein, an example embodiment of the present invention isdescribed in detail only for the single seal type shown in FIGS. 2-3,while alternative embodiments of different types of seals are shown inFIGS. 7-8. As an example, the original closing of a regular mechanicalglobe valve 1 is performed by turning its hand wheel 6 in normal way,for example, in a clockwise direction. The automatic closing of thevalve comes through telescopic expansion of the valve's column 5, shownin FIGS. 3-4, which is located in an expansion chamber 37, which forcesthe open valve to close. The expansion of the valve's column 5 comesunder the pressure of a spring 39 which is kept compressed and held by aratchet 40 at a critical position by a pin 38.

Release of the ratchet 40 occurs when the liquid flow duration is beyondthe limit set by the inhabitant of the building in which the valve 1 islocated. The liquid flow duration is not only a time set duration, butinstead it is a combination of both time and flow rate of liquid passingthrough the valve. If the valve is left open fully, then automaticshutdown will come within a short time. If the valve is left open at lowflow rate, it will take a longer time to shut down automatically.

As used herein, the term “streamer” is defined as a wheel. As the flowof the liquid passes through the orifice 3 of the valve 1, the liquidrotates a round streamer or water wheel 15, having a driver magnet 16passing through a nut 17 of a rubber seal 18, in the center of the valveseal 4 which in turn goes through a double magnet 22, 29 to a reductionchamber (gear box) 21 enclosed by a cover 31 to reduce the number ofrotations of the top gear and its attached limit disc 33, having alimiting magnet 32, to a portion of one turn, so that the number ofrotations are reduced to a maximum of one turn of a disc on the top ofthe chamber. This disc could be adjusted to a suitable point to activatethe ratchet 40 to release the column expansion mechanism.

If the valve is closed in its regular manner, the liquid flow stops,then the set of gears 24 in the reduction chamber 21 are free to turnabout the axle 25 in the opposite direction under the effect of a spring35 to restart again from its original position.

If the valve is kept open for long time then the pointer of the limitdisc on the top of the reduction chamber releases the ratchet 40 on thevalve's column to expand the main column extension 43 and to close thevalve automatically.

After the automatic shutdown, if the hand wheel 6 of the valve is turnedby hand to close the valve as per its normal use, such turning of thehand wheel 6 forces the valve column to contract to lock the expansionmechanism (expansion chamber at compression mode) at the same time ithooks the ratchet 40 at a critical position of a pin 38 of the ratchetholder.

The invention has four main parts:

1. The drive parts round streamer 15 or the whirlpooling round streamer.The streamers are rotated mechanically by the flow of liquid through thevalve.

2. Speed reduction chamber or gear box 21, which has two functions:

a. Reducing the number of rotations generated by the round streamer,such as the streamer 15, to a portion of one turn.

b. Signaling the expansion chamber 37 by the pointer 34 of the limitdisc 33 to expand its column by releasing the pin or hook 38 at theratchet when the amount of liquid flow is bigger than a preset quantity.

3. Automatic reset system in normal use.

Flashing out the recorder rotation automatically when the flow stops andreturn to its start position by the spring 35.

4. Expansion chamber.

This mechanism 37 has telescopic expansion of the valve column 5, underthe pressure of a spring 39 and hooked by the ratchet 40 at a criticalposition, which is also mechanical.

Alternative Designs of The Reduction Chamber with Signaling Shutdown

A. Mechanical Designs:

We have two options for a mechanical design.

A1. Reduction through two idle parallel columns 26 and 27, and a set ofequal double gears 23 which rotates freely on both columns and separatedby a spacer 28.

A2. Reduction through multistage micro planetary gears 24. This optionis more expensive but it allows free movement backward of the limit disc33 without the need to disengage the round streamer, such as thestreamer 15.

B. Electronic designs:

This choice needs periodic maintenance to change an inside battery. Itmay be needed in very sensitive locations, such as in power plants, forexample, in a cooling system of an atomic reactor.

The electronic design of the alternative embodiment of the presentinvention includes a regular electronic current counter 45, which takesits readings from the magnet 22 located on top of the streamer 15 whichrotates due to flow of the liquid. The counter 45 flashes out thereadings automatically when the flow stops.

Another limit counter may be used which is set by the user as a rule forcontrolling shutdown. If the reading of the current counter 45 exceedsthe reading of the rule counter, then a comparison chip 48 wouldactivate the expansion chamber 37 to expand the column 5 and shutdownthe flow.

When the valve is turned back to operation, the valve will move theexpansion chamber 37 and be ready for regular operation.

Alternative of Double Valving

In the previous description the present invention was described in termsof a single seal valve as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this option theemergency seal closes the valve by spring pressure. If the liquid isunder very high pressure then spring pressure should by very high too.

One alternative embodiment is to have a separate small area seal foremergency then there will be two seals in sequence.

Another alternative embodiment is to have the emergency seal in theopposite direction, to be in the direction of the pressure.

Whirlpooling Round Streamer Alternative

In a mechanical flashing out of the recorded rotation of the roundstreamer 15, the valve 1 requires a free backward movement withoutgenerating a flow of liquid in an opposite direction. In a planetarygear such free backward movement is possible, while in direct gearingsuch free backward movement requires disengagement of the round streamer15. For this reason, in another alternative embodiment, the roundstreamer 15 of FIGS. 4-6 is replaced by a whirlpooling-type streamer orwater wheel, where the flow of liquid generates two movements in bothrotational and axial directions for engagement with the reductionchamber 21.

Such a flow stop disengagement using the whirlpooling streamer will bedone through a spring 19 to allow the set of gears to rotate freebackward to start position.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The smart valve of the present invention does not require any specialcomponents except for those devices causing the transfer of movementthrough at least one magnet to isolate the high pressure end from thelow pressure and to isolate small gears from wetting to avoidaccumulation of residue especially calcium.

In addition, a smart valve kit make it easy to convert any previouslyinstalled valves from a regular valve to a smart valve by extending theold valve neck and insert a new seal assembly.

Implementation Of The Embodiments

FIG. 1 shows a regular globe valve 1 of the prior art having a waterinlet 2 and an orifice 3.

FIG. 2 shows a complete smart valve kit of the present invention havinga micro planetary gear type assembly.

FIG. 3 shows how the globe valve 1 of the prior art in FIG. 1 has beenconverted to smart valve by adding the kit shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows the components of a smart valve seal.

Components 14-18 are elements forming the wheel which rotates the flowof liquid in the valve and its holding to the frame of a rubber seal.

Components 21, 22, 24, 25, 29, and 31 are elements forming threemultistage planetary gears in a casing to reduce the number of rotationsof the limit disc.

Components 32, 33, 34 and 35 are the limit disc and its spring to autoset back when the flow stops, and to release the ratchet if the flowexceeds a preset amount.

Component 36 is the holder or guide of the limit disc.

Component 37 is the column valve's extension and component 38 is itspin.

Component 39 is the spring to extend the valve's column.

Component 42 is an opening for movement of the pin 38.

Component 40 is the ratchet.

Component 41 is the axle of the ratchet and its holding spring.

Component 43 is the elongation of the valve column to contain thetelescopic expansion.

Component 44 is a protection cylinder for the inner parts.

Component 5 is the end of the valve column of the original globe valve 1of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows the same assembly as in FIG. 4 with an alternativeembodiment operating by a difference in the flowing.

In another alternative embodiment, the wheel 15 is replaced with awhirlpooling streamer to have additional axial movement. A washer spring19 is included to disengage when the flow stops, with the gears 26-30 toreplace the planetary gear.

FIG. 6 shows the same assembly as in FIGS. 4 and 5, with anotheralternative embodiment providing an electronic counting configurationreplacing mechanical counting.

Component 45 shows the reading of a flow wheel, and component 46 is abattery.

Component 47 is a preset counter representing the maximum number ofrotations of the counter 45 in the condition when there is an emergency.

Component 48 is a comparison chip to compare the reading of the currentcounter with the limit to initiate a signal from a signal generatingdevice 49 to initiate shutdown.

FIG. 7 shows a smart valve with two seals from the same direction, withone for regular usage and one to work only in emergency.

FIG. 8 shows a smart valve with two seals in two directions. Theemergency one works in the direction of the pressure. This is to be usedwith an extremely high pressure flow.

PARTS LIST

-   1 Globe valve-   2 Water inlet-   3 Orifice-   4 Regular seal-   5 Valve column-   6 Hand wheel-   7 Valve neck extension—nipple-   8 Complete smart valve set—single seal-   9 Complete smart valve set—double seal, one side-   10 Complete smart valve set—double seal, two sides-   11 Additional orifice—one side, double seal-   12 Additional orifice—two sides, double seal-   13 Extension of orifice-   14 Axle of water wheel-   15 Water wheel-   16 Driver magnet-   17 Nut of rubber seal-   18 Rubber seal-   19 Spring washer-   21 Reduction chamber-   22 Driven magnet-   23 Set of reduction gears-   24 Multistage planetary gear-   25 Axle of planetary gear-   26 Idle axle of gear—center-   27 Idle axle of gear-   28 Spacers-   29 Output drive magnet-   30 Frame of axle-   31 Cover of reduction chamber-   32 Limit magnet-   33 Limit disc-   34 Pointer of ratchet release-   35 Spring for limit disc return-   36 Disc guide-   37 Hexagonal column expansion chamber-   38 Pin of ratchet holder-   39 Spring-   40 Ratchet-   41 Axle of ratchet-   42 Opening for pin movement-   43 Main column extension-   44 Protection cylinder-   45 Current reading counter-   46 Battery-   47 Limit counter-   48 Comparison chip-   49 Electronic signal generating device to release the ratchet

1. A hydraulic valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a first orificethrough which liquid flows in a flow path between said inlet and outlet,the valve comprising: a first seal; a valve column coupled to said firstseal, wherein said valve column is movable between a first position, inwhich said first seal blocks said first orifice, and a second positionin which said first seal allows flow of hydraulic fluid through saidfirst orifice; an open/close mechanism coupled to said valve column forcontrollably moving the column between said first and second positionsto open and close the valve when desired; a flow-measuring system formeasuring the volume of flow through the first orifice when said valvecolumn is moved from said first position to said second position; aconnecting portion coupled between said seal and valve column forselectively permitting said first seal to move relative to said column;a locking member for preventing said connecting portion from moving saidfirst seal relative to said column under normal conditions; a releasemechanism, responsive to said flow-measuring system, for releasing saidlocking member when the volume flow exceeds a predetermined value,wherein said connecting portion, upon being released, automaticallymoves said first seal relative to said column to block said firstorifice; a first reset mechanism for resetting the locking member; and asecond reset mechanism for resetting the value in the flow-measuringmechanism, wherein said first and second reset mechanisms are actuatedwhen the valve is closed by said open/close mechanism.
 2. The valverecited in claim 1, said valve having a second orifice in the flow path,wherein said valve includes a second seal coupled to said column at afixed, axial position relative to said column, wherein said second sealblocks said second orifice when said column is in said first positionand allows flow through said orifice when said column is in said secondposition.
 3. The valve recited in claim 2, wherein said first seal, whenopened, is positioned downstream of said first orifice, and wherein saidconnecting portion, upon being released, moves said first seal in adirection opposite to the direction of flow.
 4. The valve recited inclaim 2, wherein said first seal, when opened, is positioned upstream ofsaid first orifice , and wherein said connecting portion, upon beingreleased, moves said first seal in the direction of flow.
 5. The valverecited in claim 1, wherein said open/close mechanism comprises a handlefor manually opening and closing the valve, and wherein said handle maybe used, after the valve has automatically closed, to move the column tosaid first position and reset the first and second reset mechanisms. 6.The valve recited in claim 2, wherein said open/close mechanismcomprises a handle for manually opening and closing the valve, andwherein said handle may be used, after the valve has automaticallyclosed, to move the column to said first position and reset the firstand second reset mechanisms.